Attendance

Attendance at St Paul’s The Education Act 1996 Section 7 states: “The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall receive efficient full time education suitable to: a) his age, ability and aptitude; b) any educational needs he may have, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.” Regular attendance for all students on our roll is essential if they are to succeed and fulfil their potential. Your child’s Form Tutor or Progress Leader will follow up unexplained or concerning levels of absence.

Do you realise how many days you have had off this year?

Approximate days absent since September

Attendance Rate

By end of Autumn Term

By end of Spring Term

By end of Summer Term

100%

0

0

0

95%

4

7

10

90%

7

13

20

85%

11

19

30

80%

14

27

40

Please contact your child’s Form Tutor or Progress Leader if you wish to discuss attendance and send a note into school or phone reception to authorise absences.

Being on Time Tutors and teachers will expect students to arrive at school by 8.45am. For whatever reason, if a student is late and misses registration, as soon as they arrive in the school they should go to the office and sign the late sheet. It is essential we know who is in school in case of emergency.

If students are late on 3 or more occasions during a half term (exceptions will be given to students who travel on school buses that arrive late) they will be issued with an after school detention.

When you’re Absent Parents should telephone the school ( 2414057, option 1 ‘Student Absence’) on each morning that the student is going to be absent.

Leave of Absence The reference in law to Head Teachers being able (at their discretion) to agree up to 10 days of leave of absence will be removed. Instead, the legal reference will be amended and will mean that schools should not authorise leave of absence unless an application has been made in advance by the parent with whom the pupil normally resides and the Head Teacher considers that there are exceptionalcircumstances relating to the application. Where there is unauthorised absence, Penalty Notices will be issued. The law with regard to Penalty Notices is also changing as follows: The periods during which a Penalty Notice should be paid are shortening. For unauthorised absence that occurs wholly from 1 September 2013 onwards, the amount of the penalty to be paid will be: £60 per parent per child if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice/£120 per parent per child if paid within 28 days. Where a Penalty Notice remains unpaid, legal action will be pursued by the Local Authority. The School will no longer have holiday request forms. If you wish to make a request for leave of absence, please send a written request to Mr N Lockyer, Head Teacher, and a decision will then be provided to you in writing.